There really has to be something said about the way Australia bounces back from natural
disasters. Each and every time that great Australian spirit of mateship shows as we dig deep
both financially and with our valuable time. Once again much of Queensland and Northern
NSW has suffered as a result of Tropical Cyclone Debbie and the resulting floods from this
brutal system. Sadly eight lives have been lost and many people have lost everything, but the
offers of help are coming in thick and fast.
In the Brisbane floods of 2011, Danielle Crismani founded a group called Baked Relief. It’s
purpose was to bring together a network of people who were wiling to bake goods and deliver
them to people recovering from the Brisbane Floods. Now in 2017 after TC Debbie wrecked
havoc, the group has reactivated and is busy baking cakes, bread, biscuits and muffins to help
those affected by floods and cyclone damage in Beenleigh, Logan, Proserpine, Airlie Beach
and Northern NSW to name just a few areas. Many community groups are actively getting
involved with the initiative and one such group is the Logan House Fire Support Network, that
has been active since last Friday, delivering baked goods to many affected by the flooding.
As well as providing the community with baked goods, the group is helping to supply toiletries
and pantry items.
Louie Naumovski from Logan House Fire Support Network told ABC News, “When you get to
a devastated house or street and you bring out all the goods, you just see the smiles on their
faces.”
If your community has been impacted by this natural disaster and there is no current “Baked
Relief” group activated, and you would like to launch this in your community then please click
on the link here to get full instructions.
In communities south of Brisbane, a ‘Mud Army” of over 1000 plus people have volunteered
to help clean up the mess left behind after ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie dumped enormous
amounts of rain resulting in major flooding. Logan Mayor Luke Smith has spoken to ABC
News describing the fantastic support the volunteers have provided “So as Mayor of Logan
I’m just touched by the amount of people wiling to come in, give up their own time during
school holidays with kids to help other families, it’s just fantastic.”
All throughout Queensland and Northern NSW there are many more stories of ordinary people,
businesses and community groups doing an amazing job to help clean up, rebuild and look
after those affected by the floods, this is what the great Australian spirit is all about.
